The Smooth Fox Terrier is full of energy and never tires and they are nearly fearless and extremely sharp-witted dogs, this little but compact dog was bred to hunt, the ability to be praised to this day by its wild instincts and agile body, with their smooth, shiny coat and speaking eyes, the Smooth Fox Terrier has made them not only a fine worker but an unmatched family pet.
The breed is loyal and loving to its families, and it can work well as a great companion for active people and families, its coat is smooth and requires very minimal grooming, yet it is very playful, proving to be a great playing partner for kids.
In this article, we will be able to go through all the basics of this dynamic breed.
Overview
The Smooth Fox Terrier is irrepressibly charming, vivacious in expression, sleek in his appearance, and combines exuberance, elegance go hand-in-hand with vitality in this beautiful dog with a definite physique and an expressive face.
Agile, vigorous, and quick on their toes, the Smooth Fox Terrier is an agile breed with a quick wit that endears both to view and accompany, from active playtime to just plain energetic presence, and this breed can't help but add something uniquely blended in charm and confidence to a situation.
- Lifespan: 12-15 years
- Weight: 6-8 kilograms
- Height: 35-39 cm
- Colors: Predominantly white with black, tan, or both black and tan markings
- Size: Small to medium
- Personality: Energetic, intelligent, playful, and confident, with a strong prey drive and a protective nature.
History and Origin Of Smooth Fox Terrier
The breed has a colorful and checkered history dating back to the 18th century in England, primarily for fox hunting. The Smooth Fox Terrier is a composite of several terriers, mainly of the now-extinct Old English Terrier and the Beagle and it was developed to add such other requirements as more speed, agility, and endurance to the breed.
Soon enough, the breed was accepted as one of the fine hunting breeds and became quite popular with sportsmen and hunters alike. Its smooth, handsome coat and features that seemed to be keenly alert made it beautiful not only in the field but also in the show ring.
The Smooth Fox Terrier has almost gracefully turned through the years from a breed meant for work and of very specific origins to a dear family member much loved for their spirited and playful nature, together with the ease by which they adapt to domestic life.
Characteristics and Rating
The Smooth Fox Terrier does want attention and interaction, and they bond firmly with their owners, loyal and merry, they do prefer company and will get bored if left to their own devices for too long, which can lead to destructive behavior and they suit families or individuals who can provide plenty of engagement.
They are playful, energetic, and fond of games fetch, hide-and-seek, and other energetic games, with an extremely high prey drive, they are also into agility and flyball. Given all that energy, they require constant exercise and mental stimulation to be fit.
Since they are alert by nature, they make good watchdogs and have fast reactions to their surroundings, this turns into nonstop barking, though proper training and socialization significantly reduce their tendency to react to everything.
| Family Friendly | 4 |
| Exercise Needs | 5 |
| Easy to Train | 4 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2 |
| Likes Other Pets | 3 |
| Energy Level | 5 |
| Grooming Needs | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 |
| Affection | 4 |
| Playfulness | 5 |
| Alertness | 5 |
Smooth Fox Terrier Personality Traits
The Smooth Fox Terrier is quite a character and they are always ready for activities, it is very much made known in the way it expresses its curiosity and cunningness, through investigation, exploration of the new, and discovery around every turn. Being a very fearless character, their confidence carries them off.
That means that they are highly demonstrative, as they love being with family for long periods, defending the pack, or fighting for a loved one if they feel that there could be danger, the breed is described as friendly, companionable, cautious with strangers, and usually taking time to warm up.
Intelligent and Inquisitive
They are very smart and curious dogs, their brilliant mind with sharp senses help them pick up first commands and new tricks, and are always curious to learn more, with a desire to explore and investigate things that may be new to them like a toy, smell, or surroundings.
On the other hand, intellect comes with its demand for mental stimulation; otherwise, it tends to get bored and against such a backdrop, it turns mischievous, developing problem behaviors, regular training sessions, interactive toys, and engaging activities will keep them preoccupied and in great spirits.
Adaptable
Smooth Fox Terriers adapt well to city apartments or country homes provided sufficient opportunity for exercise is available, they are of small size, making them ideal to live in city apartments or country homes, provided there is access to a yard or outdoor space in which to shake their energy.
They are versatile, but they certainly fit better in homes in which they are included in all family activities and enjoy doing things with their owners like playing games, taking walks, or even sitting and just hanging out, their versatility makes them overall amiable and agreeable companions.
Shedding
One of the more identifiable attributes of the Smooth Fox Terrier is that it possesses a short, smooth coat that has an extraordinarily low tendency to shed, although they are considered low shedders, their coats do require frequent brushing to keep them fine, weekly brushing removes any loose hair that may otherwise have been shed randomly throughout the home.
Due to their almost non-shedding, they are most suitable for those to whom dog hair is a huge issue so be aware there is no such dog as hypoallergenic, so a Smooth Fox Terrier might trigger allergies in some good grooming and cleaning are going to reduce the dander and hair in your home.
Health
While the breed is generally healthy, a few health problems may be predisposed for the Smooth Fox Terrier, all-round health status is sealed by regular veterinary visits and feeding on a good, balanced diet, vigilance over their body weight, and enough exercise taken to avert obesity that brings in complications.
Some of the most common health problems related to Smooth Fox Terriers include hip dysplasia, cataracts, and skin allergies, all of which can be decreased with responsible breeding practices and early detection, and they will remain fit for a long time, provided they are given a good diet, regular exercise and immediately taken to medical attention.
Nutrition and Diet
They are full of energy so good, well-balanced food is needed to keep them fit and full of energy quality healthy pet food has always been important for good health in your dogs and the diet will call for a mix of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to keep them fit and active.
Good quality food: Feeding your Smooth Fox Terrier good food is central to his health and you can either use commercial dog food or feed him a home-cooked diet it should be complete, and suited for his age, size, and activity level, high-quality dog food is specially used to meet the various requirements of energetic breeds such as the Smooth Fox Terrier.
Importance of Protein: Another very critical element in your dog's diet is protein, it builds muscles and supplies them with energy for their active lives so look for food in which the first ingredient listed is a slice of meat to ensure that it has a good source of quality protein, this will give them strength to them remain hale and hearty.
Balanced Fats for Energy: A big part of their diet comes from fats, another dense source of energy, healthy fat in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids will give your pup good skin and a shiny coat. There must be an amount of fat, but it has to be controlled in such a way that it doesn't lend to excess weight gain only feed your dog foods with a moderate amount of fat content, this shall help him not to lose an inch of energy and not put on a lot of weight, either.
Adding Fiber and Carbs: Fiber-rich food in your dog's diet will avoid stomach problems and make sure they have regular bowel movements it is a source of energy, especially for very energetic dogs like them so make sure that the carbohydrates in their diet include essential things that will give them energy release throughout the day.
Feeding Schedules
A smooth fox terrier needs a regular feeding pattern that can help in the general health and vigor of your dog, you will thereby have a very controlled feeding pattern, which will help you maintain the apt metabolic rate, avoid overeating, and ultimately keep your pet fit and healthy.
Feed your Smooth Fox Terrier puppy 3-4 small meals a day to help supplement his growth and energy demands, as he matures, slowly turn him over to fewer meals, and by the time they reach adulthood, at about one year, the ideal amount for feeding will be twice a day. This is for weight management and maintaining energy levels, monitoring the intake of food, and adjusting the portions accordingly on their activity and weight.
The nutritional needs change with your Smooth Fox Terrier's age, so older dogs need lesser calorie intake but a balanced diet, use an older dog formula so that they get what they need without excess calories and regular checkups with the vet are necessary to keep track of health and to make the correct changes to the diet.
Maintaining a good weight
It is the key to the health of your Smooth Fox Terrier, obese dogs are subject to so many different diseases that it is quite a requirement for them to have a regular flow of exercises alongside portion control and consult with your veterinarian about what diet and how much exercise your dog needs according to the size, age, and activity level of the dog.
Monitoring Their Weight
Regular checks of your dog's weight let you note the change as it is in process and set him back on track with necessary changes in diet and exercise routine weigh your Smooth Fox Terrier once a month, and log the weight, to stay within a healthy range.
Portion Control
This will help avoid overfeeding and it will follow the feeding guidelines provided in the packaging of your dog's food, then adjust based on the activity level and condition of your dog's body, avoid free-feeding, where the food is always there, and allow them to overeat and thus gain weight.
Exercise and Activity
This is good for the weight and health of your Smooth Fox Terrier, various activities such as walking, playing, and interactive games are much needed and are to be performed daily to keep them active and healthy and exercise will challenge them mentally and avert them from destructive behavior and boredom.
Pros And Cons
In a Smooth Fox Terrier, several characteristics can either make or break a pet owner and they can be very intelligent, and energetic, and seem to have unlimited energy, in a position to add so much life and activity to a home.
Knowing all of these varied characteristics will make you much better placed to establish the right setting and care for your new furry companion so both you and your dog may be able to enjoy a happy, rewarding relationship.
Pros
- Full of Energy: Full of energy, and an abundance of enjoyment, the Smooth Fox Terrier does not lag and it is this quality of breed that makes it lively and enthusiastic for play and their boundless energy will suit active families and individuals most of all.
- Intelligent: It is a very sharp breed, with quick learning skills for new orders and tricks and their intelligence lets them know that not only the training is going to be easy but they will provide mental stimulation through various activities and puzzles.
- Playful: They are full of energy and playfulness and they enjoy interactive games, thus providing excellent company for kids and adults with active and playful lifestyles.
Cons
- High prey drive: Their prey drive may be very high, because of which they may chase small animals and this makes them very difficult to restrain, especially in areas where the wildlife is heavy or when they are off-leash, their instinct needs to be trained by the owner for a safe walk or any other outdoor activity.
- Attention Needed: Smooth Fox Terriers are interactive dogs that require much companionship, they'll get bored or anxious, and even develop destructive habits if they are left to themselves for too long and they do their best in homes where they aren't often left alone.
- Barking Tendencies: With this amount of alertness in the breed comes the tendency to bark at almost every sound or anything unfamiliar, this necessitates proper training and socialization so they learn to keep their barking in control and be nice in all situations.
